John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development

The John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development is housed at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Founded in 1997, the university-based research and policy center is dedicated to raising the effectiveness of the American workplace by strengthening workforce education, placement and training programs, and policies and has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s leading research centers for workforce development. The Center’s efforts concentrate on both nurturing concrete innovations in workforce practices, as well as addressing broad-scale economic policy changes that ensure Americans receive the education and training they need to be productive and prosperous in the knowledge economy of the 21st century.

The Center provides an independent source of analysis for reform and innovation in policy-making and employs cutting-edge research and evaluation projects to identify best practices in workforce development and employment and workplace policy. It is also engaged in significant partnerships with the private sector to design effective education and training programs and is committed to assisting job seekers and workers attain the information, education, and skills training they need to move up the economic ladder. The Center embodies its slogan “Solutions at Work” by not only documenting challenges facing the nation’s workforce, but also partnering with industry leaders and educators to seek out practical solutions that translate into effective government and workforce policy. Ultimately, the Center serves as a laboratory to create innovative, applied solutions to well-documented workplace challenges. This combination of scholarly research and “real world” solutions enables the Center to make a significant difference in the lives and futures of American workers and their employers.